Yosemite Point
Peak · 6,938 ft · Yosemite corridor
Yosemite Point is a 6938-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of the Sierra Nevada, perched above the High Country with exposure to afternoon wind funneling off nearby ridges and lakes.
Wind accelerates sharply after midday, driven by thermal heating across open slopes and adjacent basins. Morning calm is reliable; afternoon gusts push 15 to 20 mph by 3 p.m. Temperature swings 15 to 20 degrees between sun and shade. Snow lingers into late spring on north-facing approaches.
Over the last 30 days, Yosemite Point averaged 7 mph wind and 35°F with a NoGo Score of 33, meaning conditions were marginal roughly two-thirds of the time. The 30-day high reached 22 mph on exposed days. The week ahead shows typical spring volatility: expect morning windows on calmer days and afternoon closures when pressure systems funnel stronger flow through the Sierra passes.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Yosemite Point
Yosemite Point sits at 6938 feet in the Yosemite corridor, a high-Sierra peak accessed primarily via the Tioga Road (Highway 120) from the west or Highway 395 from the east. The standard approach climbs from the Yosemite high country, typically starting near Tenaya Lake or the Tioga Lake basin. Drive time from Yosemite Valley is 45 to 60 minutes; from Lee Vining on the east side, 90 to 120 minutes. Winter closure of Highway 120 blocks western access November through May; eastern access via 395 remains open year-round but requires a long approach across exposed terrain.
Conditions on Yosemite Point track the classic Sierra high-country pattern: stable early mornings, wind-driven by afternoon, and extreme seasonal swings. The 30-day average wind of 7 mph masks a range from calm to 22 mph; most days see gusts over 15 mph by 2 p.m. Temperature averages 35°F over the rolling month but climbs to 51°F in summer and drops to 21°F in deep winter. Crowding remains light at an average of 3 out of 10, even when Highway 120 reopens; the peak is not a tourist destination. Spring snowpack lingers on north aspects through late May; avalanche terrain dominates the eastern approach drainages.
Yosemite Point suits climbers, scramblers, and backpackers seeking solitude and high-elevation exposure without technical rock. Experienced winter mountaineers use it as a training objective for Sierra snow and wind management. Plan for a dawn start to escape afternoon wind; a 6 a.m. departure buys you a calm 4-hour window before gusts peak. Bring a wind layer even if the forecast looks benign; the 22 mph maximum recorded in the rolling 30-day window is routine on exposed ridges. Avalanche awareness is mandatory on snow; weak layers persist in spring corn cycles. Parking is minimal and informal; arrive by mid-morning or face a long walk from overflow areas.
Nearby alternatives include Cathedral Lakes and Tenaya Lake for lower-elevation, less-exposed views in the same corridor, and Mount Dana to the northeast for a higher and more technical summit. Yosemite Point is best paired with a loop into the Ten Lakes basin or as a day ascent combined with Tenaya Canyon exploration. The peak is seldom crowded but deserves respect; weather deteriorates fast above 7000 feet in spring and early summer, and descending in wind on scree is hazardous.